The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld (18 page)

Koa frowned. She hated to admit that was the reason he had left her in the first place…for making her own decisions.

She opened the door, stepped out, and slammed it closed. She lifted herself into the air and flew to the tall, black, doorways that led into the castle.

Two guards with suits and slicked back hair opened the double doors for her without a second glance. Koa was a regular. She dared anyone to stand in her way on this night. Inside, she had no smiles for anyone.

Greta, one of Lexi’s sires, and main girlfriend, started to greet her. She saw the scowl on Koa’s face and decided to keep her mouth shut. Greta stepped back behind the mahogany podium and nodded to the side hallway. Koa didn’t even have the desire to acknowledge her. She walked through the black archway and into the dimly lit corridor. Black candles lined the paneled walls.

Koa walked along the red carpet that lead to the end of the hall, and parlor. Koa smelled the heavy scent of perfume, cologne, and alcohol. There were fresh humans awaiting. They were probably nervous to find a vampire master.

She took off her gloves and stretched her fingers. She was amped and ready to hurt someone. Only blood would calm her down. If she couldn’t kill anyone tonight, she would stick to the plan and choose a new pet, and drink as much as she could without stealing a life.

There were guards at each door that led to a public room. They opened the door to the parlor and she stepped inside. Music thumped and vibrated the floor. She snatched a flute of champagne from a server and downed it. The server gave her an odd look as she put the empty glass back on the tray. She ignored him.

Koa shut her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of the music vibrating the floor. She wanted to feel anything but the hot, burning rage that pulsed throughout her entire body.

The DJ spun techno tracks and she let her head fall back as the music filled her. She smelled blood all around and found herself getting hungry and aroused. Her canines emerged and she licked them.

Koa waited until a particular scent caught her interest. She sniffed the air and her head lolled to the right. She opened her eyes and caught sight of the girl that emitted the delicious aroma. She was small, like Koa, and had a short blonde bob. She wore a gold cocktail dress and ballet flats. She smelled delicious.

Everything about her was petite, her waist, and her small nose. Koa took two strides over to her and grabbed her by that tiny waist.

Koa kissed her. It was a passionate kiss that made Koa’s ears grow hot and her heart thump. When she broke away, she felt dizzy. Koa didn’t let the girl’s tiny waist go. She held her steady as she swooned and looked up at her with bright blue eyes.

Koa always had a thing for blue eyes. She didn’t smile at her. She couldn’t even fake one. Koa gazed into the girl’s eyes and in an instant, the girl was claimed. She would reveal everything Koa wanted without hesitation.

“What’s your name?”

“Lindley,” she breathed.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-two.” She had an accent, like one of those girls from the south in the states. Koa sure could pick them. She never knew she had such a taste for American’s.

“Why are you here tonight?” Koa had no idea what she was unleashing.

“My friends said it’s the most exclusive place in Europe.” Lindley lowered her voice as if she was going to tell Koa a secret. “Ann said that there were vampires here. Wait…are you a vampire? You kind of look like one…kind of pale. But pretty! You’re so pretty. I could just lick your face, you’re so cute! You know, I never even knew about vampires until I met Ann? I love you guys though. Hey, I want to be a pet. I want a vampire to protect and support me, and buy me nice things. I hear some even let pets live with them, like mistresses. I don’t mind being a mistress.”

Koa stopped listening or caring. She had a feeling that the girl could go on…and on. She lowered her head to Lindley’s throat and breathed her sweet scent in. It was nearly as good as Ian’s and even a little dirtier. This girl wasn’t as innocent as Ian. Perhaps that was a good thing. She wanted something different. She’d never had a girl pet. Koa wanted to be daring. Lindley was hers.

It was official, and Lexi smiled the moment she saw them together. She shook her head with a satisfied grin and logged the transaction in her little palm device.

Lindley was still staring into Koa’s eyes with an empty headed, slack jawed, look. Koa gave her one more, soft, kiss on her full, pink, lips and moved her hand from her waist to her small hand. Koa pulled Lindley along and started for the door. She saw Ian standing with a stunning brunette, a glass of champagne, and a newfound confidence.

Ian watched Koa and gave a half-smile as if asking for her approval. He looked from the brunette and back to Koa. Koa gave him a slight nod and left the parlor. The second the guards closed the doors behind her and Lindley, it was silent in the corridor once more.

Jax. Jax. Jax.

Koa couldn’t get his name out of her head. Lindley followed her without a word and all Koa could do was imagine this grotesque creature damming her mother into that feline body that she had been forced to live in. She hated all Netherworld vamps. She would get her revenge.

They went up the elevator and to her usual room, and Koa closed the door behind them.

H
alston sat on a wooden bench at a park. He watched the people walking by. There was soft music playing in the background as a young man played the guitar for a group of teenage girls.

Halston leaned against the benches back and drank from a bottle of water. It was a rare sunny day. He held something in his hand. A small gold bracelet.

Halston sighed as he looked down at the bracelet. Charms dangled from it. A train, a star, and a horse. There was a name etched into the inside.

Galena
.

Halston felt a pain fill his body every time he read the name. The bracelet had been given to Galena by her parents before they were killed by vampires. Halston had taken it from her dead body that very morning.

He’d never felt this way before. His heart beat rapidly. He could barely control his breaths. Halston was always in control. Now, everything was falling apart. A woman he had promised to protect was dead, and another whom he had grown to love hadn’t returned to her house in weeks.

How could I let this happen
? Halston had been asking himself that very question all day. The guilt was too strong. He hadn’t shaved, or showered. He still wore what he had worn on his mission the night before. He was glad that he hadn’t had to shed any blood. He had found a newly emerged pack of vampires and convinced them to register with the Netherworld division. They would now be monitored and set up with a clan of ‘reformed’ vampires.

Halston missed having Koa with him on such missions. She took more pleasure in reforming vampires than she did in killing them. That was what he loved about her more than anything. She had a good heart.

Another pang of guilt filled his heart and he groaned. He thought about the look on Koa’s face when he fired her every day. That had been four weeks ago. He hadn’t seen or heard from her since.

Raven informed him that she had went to Wryn Castle and he had went straight there. He didn’t come in, but he had seen her step out onto her balcony one evening. He left then, assured that she was safe, but not before watching her stare out into the horizon as if yearning for something.

Halston imagined that she was calling for him. All he wanted was an apology…an indication that she knew that what she had did was wrong. He wanted her to mean it and finally learn from her mistakes. He wanted her to grow up and take responsibilities for her actions.

Halston’s hand shook as he put Galena’s bracelet back in his pocket. Bund was loose, and he was on a vengeful killing spree. Halston had investigated at least fifty murders of little girls within the last month. The poor bodies had been nailed to the doors of their homes so that the parents would see them the moment they returned home. The humans were in a hysterical frenzy.

“
Serial Killer! On The Loose
!” Those words were on every newspaper in London. The humans that knew of nephilim existence were looking to the Netherworld division for answers. Halston and the others didn’t know what to say. They couldn’t stop Bund.

Halston winced. He knew who could.

Raven sat beside him, waiting for him to speak. Halston was grateful for her patience.

Halston held up a newspaper and folded one leg over the other so that his shoe rested on his other knee. He didn’t look at the black cat. He looked at the paper and spoke. “It’s time. Are you ready?”

Raven nodded. “I am. I’ve told you before that I’ve been ready. Do you finally think Koa is?”

Halston felt a pain in his stomach. He didn’t like these new sensations. He missed Koa. He missed Galena. The thirst for revenge was too strong. He could not afford to allow himself to lose control.

Halston grimaced. “I can no longer wait for her to be ready. We’ve wasted enough time.”

“And who is to blame for that?” Raven asked. She looked over at a little girl who came to pet her. The little girl grinned at Raven.

“Is this your cat?”

Halston forced a smile. She was an adorable little brunette with a big blue bow in her hair. Maybe eight years old. Halston’s face paled as he imagined her body being nailed to the door of her house. He tried to keep the smile. He didn’t want to frighten the girl.

“It is,” Halston said. He leaned forward and picked a fallen twig out of the girl’s hair. 

She smiled at him and adjusted her little black glasses. “What’s her name?”

“Raven.”

Raven meowed and rubbed her head into the girl’s palm. The little girl giggled.

“Nice to meet you, Raven,” she said in a sweet little voice. “I’m Rebecca.”

Halston looked around the park. There were so many people around. “Where are your parents, Rebecca?”

She pointed over to a picnic blanket set out on the large green yard. There were dozens of other picnic blankets set all around. It was the first lovely day in a long time.

Halston nodded. “Good.” He motioned her closer with his index finger. His eyes met hers. “Promise me something.”

The girl’s eyes widened as she looked into Halston’s. She nodded as her smile faded.

Halston’s voice lowered into a whisper. “Stay with your parents, Rebecca. Keep away from strangers. Even if they seem nice…
neve
r leave with a stranger. Can you do that for me?”

Rebecca didn’t blink. She nodded slowly with her mouth agape.

Halston sat back and Rebecca stared at him for a second. Her lips trembled and she ran away towards her parent’s picnic blanket.